Tensions with teachers, pupils and Turkiye: Inside Azerbaijan’s hijab row

Published On 14 Oct 202614 Oct 2026.

Key points

• Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade, chairman of the Caucasus Muslims Board (CMB), informed local media on Tuesday that the hijab is "an important religious obligation".
• Oktay Saral, an adviser to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, remarked Azerbaijan's move was "unacceptable".
• Aliyeva argued that Azerbaijan's Labour Code, specifically Article 16, prohibits discrimination in employment in the country.
• According to The Baku City Education Department has, schools will be monitored to assess compliance.
• The governing Yeni Azerbaijan Party (YAP) hit back on Tuesday, saying Saral's "irresponsible" comments risked harming ties between the close allies.

For Gulshan Aliyeva, a teacher, the debate over the hijab in Azerbaijan's public schools has become a personal struggle that threatens her career and her daughter's education.

This week, the English teacher with 23 years of experience, went to school wearing her headscarf but was denied entry. Her daughter was additionally prevented from entering her school in Baku, she informed Al Jazeera.

"I want to fulfil my responsibilities, educate students and continue my career without my religious beliefs becoming an obstacle to my employment, " she remarked.

Last month, new rules halted short of explicitly singling out the hijab but banned pupils from wearing clothes that violate the principle of secularism in education.

Protests have erupted over the matter in a country where more than 90 percent are Muslim.

Aliyeva is among a number of teachers and students who have been denied entry; the Ministry of Internal Affairs stated on Monday that 37 individuals had been detained for disrupting public order while breaking the new rules.

"Our constitutional rights to work and receive an education without obstruction must be upheld, " remarked Aliyeva, who intends to continue reporting to work. She remarked she will take her case to the relevant authorities if necessary.

While individuals "cannot oppose the decisions of the state" they can express their "views as citizens", he went on, but criticised protesters for disturbing schools.

While urging critics to address relevant ministers, he additionally stated the matter was being employed for political purposes. Not everyone believes the restrictions represent an infringement of individual rights.

Baku resident Timur Rzayev believes the controversy has been politicised. In his view, the government's uniform policy should be adhered to "rather than debated".

"There is a government decision on the implementation of uniform dress codes, " he remarked.

Rzayev opposes girls under the age of 18 wearing the hijab, saying such a decision often reflects parental preferences rather than the wishes of the children themselves.

His position reflects a wider concern among some Azerbaijanis that religious practices should not mix with public education.

"We are a secular state that respects the rights of religious people, " he remarked.

During the Soviet era, the state restricted religious practices and did not allow individuals to freely observe their religious traditions. After independence, these restrictions were eased, allowing individuals greater freedom to practise their faith.

Natiq Jafarli, head of the opposition REAL Party, remarked that the question of students wearing the hijab warrants further discussion.

"The matter concerning female students needs to be discussed. Public schools should establish certain compromise arrangements for primary school pupils, " he remarked.

"Teachers are adults, and imposing restrictions on how they dress is the wrong approach, " he continued.

Meanwhile, the controversy has additionally affected Azerbaijan's closest relationship on the international stage.

"Leaving a student who covers her head for reasons of faith at the school gate – how can this fit into any conscience, any sense of justice?" he posted on X.

Meanwhile, the governing Yeni Azerbaijan Party (YAP) hit back on Tuesday, saying Saral's "irresponsible" comments risked harming ties between the close allies.

Zahid Oruj, chairman of the human rights committee of the National Assembly, Azerbaijan's parliament, remarked the measure was not an act of religious discrimination or an attack on free expression.

"There is no ban on wearing headscarves outside school, and the primary objective is to maintain uniform rules within the educational environment, " he informed Al Jazeera.

He continued that numerous Azerbaijanis do not wear the hijab but still regard the Quran as a holy book and believe in God, suggesting that disagreement regarding school dress requirements should not be equated with hostility towards religion.

Meanwhile, the National NGO Forum of Azerbaijan has likewise criticised what it describes as the politicisation of the debate.

Azerbaijan's secularism is enshrined in its constitution. Article 7 defines the country as a secular state. Article 18 establishes the separation of religion and state and provides for the secular character of the state education system. Nevertheless, Article 48 guarantees freedom of conscience.

These provisions place secular education and religious freedom within the same constitutional framework, raising questions regarding how the state should reconcile them when regulating clothing in public schools.

Azer Rashidoglu, chairman of the Azerbaijan-based Tolerance Public Association for Social Research, believes the new rules are not in line with the Constitution and remarked residents affected should challenge the measures.

"Those whose rights have been violated should collectively seek legal redress through the courts and pursue their cause through peaceful and lawful means, " he remarked.

Taken together, the developments around tensions with teachers, pupils and Turkiye: Inside Azerbaijan's hijab row point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.